Pataki Says He’ll Support Candidate Who “Brings An End To America’s Debt Crisis”

It’s over before it began. Former Gov. George Pataki this afternoon officially ended his nonexistent bid for president.

Pataki stoked speculation earlier this week that he may run for president when aides started talking up his potential candidacy—and he fanned the flames further when they announced he would head to Iowa on Saturday to address a GOP crowd.

But it all ended this afternoon.

The former three-term Republican governor from Garrison, Putnam County, put out this statement that he won’t run for president and instead focus on his No American Debt group.

“Earlier this year I launched No American Debt to put a focus on our debt crisis. President Obama and his misguided policies are bankrupting America, stealing from our children’s future and he must be defeated next November. It is incumbent on our party to come forward with serious solutions to preserve our future and ensure America’s continued greatness. I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government. At this time, I will continue to do this as the leader of No American Debt and not as a candidate for president. Throughout the coming months I will remain active in this important discussion and support the candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America’s debt crisis.“